Internet @ Schools

Follett Challenge to Recognize K-12 Innovation at 15 Schools

Schools around the world will vie to be recognized as the most innovative in the third annual Follett Challenge, which has just launched. This year’s contest will reward 15 schools from all levels of education for the best and most effective approaches to 21st century learning. New this year, the Follett Challenge will honor semifinalist winners in four categories: elementary, middle, high school and magnet/parochial/K12 schools.

With a total prize value of $200,000 in products and services from Follett, the overall winner will earn a $60,000 prize, plus a celebration at the school, while each of the other three semifinalists will earn $30,000 prizes. Ten $5,000 prizes will be awarded to the “People’s Choice” winners—those schools that receive the highest number of online votes from the public. Judges will select the grand-prize winner from among the four semifinalists.

To participate, entrants must complete an online application and upload a three- to five-minute video describing their program. The judges will be seeking applications that illustrate critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration between students and among teachers and other members of the school staff. The overall score for the semifinalists will be based on the final rubric score from the panel of judges plus the number of votes the submitted video receives. Seventy percent of each score will be based on the judges’ opinion of the entry. Because the remaining 30 percent of the final score is based on the number of votes generated for the school’s video, the winning schools will ultimately be those that aggressively spread the word about their programs.

Key contest dates are:

· Oct. 1: Contest formally launches on www.follettchallenge.com.

· Nov. 1: Entries open.

· Feb. 28, 2014: Entries close.

· March 7, 2014: Video voting begins.

· April 4, 2014: Video voting ends.

· April 14, 2014: Four semifinalists and 10 video winners announced.

· May 16, 2014: Grand prize winner announced.

According to Follett School Solutions, the Follett Challenge exists to spotlight educators who are doing an exceptional job with the limited resources they have and to give them a platform to share their innovative efforts with their peers.

For more information on the Follett Challenge, visit www.follettchallenge.com